Strengthening Auckland’s Regional Governance

Media Release

Friday 3 November

Discussion document significant milestone on path to Stronger Auckland

Today’s release of a discussion document is a significant milestone in the process to strengthen Auckland’s regional governance.

The document, which outlines ways Auckland’s councils can better deliver in the future, has been circulated to all Auckland councils today and each council is expected to respond to the options outlined within it over the next week.

Independent Project Manager Brian Roche says the discussion document has been compiled in a joint process involving all Auckland’s councils and Central Government.

“The Auckland Mayoral Forum passed resolutions on September 15 to initiate a process for strengthening regional governance in Auckland. This discussion paper is the first major milestone in the response to those resolutions,” Mr Roche says.

As well as participating on the joint development of the document, Central Government has indicated its willingness to consider changes to legislation if necessary.

Mr Roche says that means the timeframe for Auckland councils to firm up a proposal for change and get it to central government is very tight.

“In order to have legislation in time for next year’s local government elections, we need to have a proposal ready for Central Government by early December,” he says.

Once councils have provided feedback on the discussion document, which contains three options for the way forward, their input will be considered and a single proposal developed. This proposal is scheduled to be released on November 24 and councils will be asked to respond to it through formal resolutions.

The final proposal is expected to be delivered to the Minister of Local Government by December 7.

In the meantime the councils have jointly developed a website, www.strongerauckland.org.nz where interested members of the public can access the discussion document and other information on the process for strengthening Auckland’s regional governance.

ENDS

Note to media: The discussion document referred to in this media release is available from www.strongerauckland.org.nz.

© Scoop Media